Bangor concluded a difficult month of fixtures with a trip to Caersws and were grateful to emerge with a share of the spoils after a lack lustre performance which spoke volumes for the absence of Clayton Blackmore. The veteran defender was suspended after reaching five yellow cards; without him City lacked composure and guile and were suckered into a high tempo game which inevitably suited the local experts.
After a fairly indifferent opening quarter hour the game sprang to life when Owain Jones was forced clear after a deep cross from the Bluebirds right, then Phil Baker found Owain Jones on the edge of the box. His header was collected by Paul Roberts who reached the byline to set up Tony Gray but his near post flick went the wrong side of the post from two yards.
However on 24 minutes City went ahead. A smart pass from Mark Connolly opened up the home defence for Owain Jones to sidestep Howells and place the ball low to Mulliner's right. The former City 'keeper managed to get a hand on the shot but the sight of City supporter Matt Shooman leaping first amongst the Bangor fans behind the goal confirmed that the end result was a goal!
Mulliner denied City a second with a low acrobatic save from Andy Thomas after the defender tried to head out for a corner following a dangerous cross from Mark Connolly on the right. Next Tony Gray cut in from the right but his shot was blocked on the six yard line. Caersws took heart from a corner from the left footed Jehu which was headed on target by Colin Reynolds but to his dismay it hit the upright and ran to safety.
The half time whistle saw City with the solitary goal advantage, the dismal weather and disjointed performance doing little to warm the hearts or hands of the travelling City contingent. And the ceaseless drizzle wrapped itself around "the rec" like a head cold.... Half Time 1-0.
Barely had the second half got underway than Caersws drew level thanks to a wonder strike from Andy Thomas, but they might have fallen further behind as Tony Gray tested Mulliner with a firm shot from the right. The half time replacement for the home side was young Neil Mitchell, and it was his initial break down the right which Peter Hoy partly stopped, Owain Jones just about cleared and the tigerish Paul Friel did not quiet manage to, which resulted in Andy Thomas lashing at the ball some 25 yards out in front of goal. Richard Acton took off but to his astonishment the missile passed him on its way to the top right hand corner for a fantastic leveller.
On 59 minutes the home side went ahead despite loud appeals for offside. Inevitably it was Graham Evans on the left who got the nod from the linesman on the open side to lob Richard Acton from the edge of the box. Despite the best efforts of leftback Kevin Scott the ball struck the far post and rebounded into the net. Manager Peter Davenport was furious and the entire Bangor bench - even a handful of neutrals - called for the official to wave his flag but to no avail.
The pacey Tony Gray was causing problems for the home defence and when Paul Roberts slipped his marker on the half way line to release the twenty year old the prospects looked good. However Andy Thomas was again to the fore with a well timed block which resulted in corner on the right. With about twenty minutes to go Les Davies replaced Simon Davies who had been yellow carded for contesting a decision by the linesman.
On 73 minutes Bangor were level. Tony Gray collected the ball on the right, just infront of the home dugout. With Les Davies on the penalty spot waiting for the cross Gray switched the ball to his left foot and bamboozled Geraint Lewis who headed home emphatically beyond his despairing keeper.
As time ran out young Caersws sub Mitchell threw a blatant dive to try and win a penalty, then Paul Roberts booted Mark Howells and earned a yellow card in an incident which provoked a bit of handbags in front of the home dugout once more. It was all quickly under control as Owain Jones amongst the Bangor players aided Referee Ellingham, and after a late chance for the home side the whistle went. A draw about right, and without wishing to sound too partisan, a point earned despite a very unimpressive performance by the visitors. Come on Clayton we need you!
Report by: Mike Smith
